What would you say is the team's biggest weakness?

[Unconditional Surrender]

1. Rebounding?
2. 3-point?
3. No dynamo running the show at PG?
4. Other?

I know that lack of post presence gobbling up boards is probably what most would say, but I think the lack of a great 3 point shooter or two may ultimately keep us from winning a championship.

 

[cncchris33]

1. Rebounding?
2. 3-point?
3. No dynamo running the show at PG?
4. Other?

I know that lack of post presence gobbling up boards is probably what most would say, but I think the lack of a great 3 point shooter or two may ultimately keep us from winning a championship.

Honestly, we are currently +23 for the season on the boards. We have outrebounded our last two opponents by double-digits, and got beat by 6 vs Colorado, on the boards.

I’m much more concerned, to this point, with our shooting than I am our rebounding. Pons has really improved his rebounding. Fulk is always solid on the boards, we added EJA who is a rebounding specialist, and JJJ is a really good rebounder on the wing, too

 

[JelloPuddinPup]

1. Rebounding?
2. 3-point?
3. No dynamo running the show at PG?
4. Other?

I know that lack of post presence gobbling up boards is probably what most would say, but I think the lack of a great 3 point shooter or two may ultimately keep us from winning a championship.

I would say offensive chemistry. I don't think it's there yet. Knowing the right lineups and guys getting into roles that they can be successful in during crunch-time whether they play regular minutes at the end of the games or not.

What is our 'go-to' this season in a tight game? Are we ready to score in a close one?

 

[VFLCodyGBO]

For me, it’s our 3 point game. If we play another elite defensive team with talented players over 6’10 and they take our inside away, I’m not confident we have the horses to keep up in a 3 point shooting contest.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

I’m being picky but I’m going to say 3 point shooting.

We’re the type of team who loves to get to the rim. However playing a team with more length and size, forces us to take 3 point shots.

If we’re having a bad shooting night, opposing teams can take advantage of that.

I’m not taking anything away from these players, this is just my opinion.

 

[OffTackleVol]

1. Rebounding?
2. 3-point?
3. No dynamo running the show at PG?
4. Other?

I know that lack of post presence gobbling up boards is probably what most would say, but I think the lack of a great 3 point shooter or two may ultimately keep us from winning a championship.

I'm actually more concerned with keeping everybody happy with the number of minutes on the floor. As a former basketball coach myself, IMO, a rotation of 9 players is about right (no injuries of course). We've actually got 11-12 guys who could give quality minutes.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Our offense overall especially when solid defensive teams through the zone at us in a half court setting. Colorado did this to us in our first game. I believe Barnes will get that corrected though. We have too many skilled players on this team.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

For me, it’s our 3 point game. If we play another elite defensive team with talented players over 6’10 and they take our inside away, I’m not confident we have the horses to keep up in a 3 point shooting contest.

This team reminds me of some of the Kentucky teams that have had to do it with lack of an assassin behind the arc. Vescovi could probably be that guy. I wonder if a lineup with him as the 2 with Springer or JJJ running the point might be optimal.

 

[Vols8086]

Who gets the ball in crunch time offensively or when we need a bucket to stop the bleeding?

Someone needs to step up and take that designation if this team is going to reach its ceiling.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

Honestly, we are currently +23 for the season on the boards. We have outrebounded our last two opponents by double-digits, and got beat by 6 vs Colorado, on the boards.

I’m much more concerned, to this point, with our shooting than I am our rebounding. Pons has really improved his rebounding. Fulk is always solid on the boards, we added EJA who is a rebounding specialist, and JJJ is a really good rebounder on the wing, too

It helps to have length at the 1-3. The guards will get more than their share of rebounds.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

Who gets the ball in crunch time offensively or when we need a bucket to stop the bleeding?

Someone needs to step up and take that designation if this team is going to reach its ceiling.

I'm not worried about this. I think the two main candidates are Fulky and Springer, depending on what the D is doing.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I'm actually more concerned with keeping everybody happy with the number of minutes on the floor. As a former basketball coach myself, IMO, a rotation of 9 players is about right (no injuries of course). We've actually got 11-12 guys who could give quality minutes.

It appears that only 8 have are good enough or have earned minutes. Possibly 9 counting Ticket, but he’s behind a log jam of NBA talent. Nkamhoua, Uros, Walker, and Pember don’t seem anywhere close to being able to demand more minutes.

 

[orangemadam]

Just from this casual observer that loves to watch Vols sports, after the first 3 games
I am concerned at the lack of the 3 point shooting and overall shooting.

I am also concerned at the failure of Pons and Anosike to hit those 8-10 ft shots that are open in the zone defense.

I think Pons will eventually start hitting those, but I would feel better if they start falling sooner rather than later.

Side note - man, that Keon (keyon?) is one heckuva complete player!! Best since Tobias in my opinion.

 

[i2amavol]

Wow. It is hard for me to believe that 3 point shooting might be our biggest weakness, but if I were the opposing coach, I would play a zone, and make Tennessee prove they could beat it.

I wonder if we might have trouble with depth in the paint. If Fulky and Anosike get into foul trouble, do our subs there help keep us in the game against a top 20 team? We might be forced to go with a smaller lineup (not a terrible option), and beat them with quickness. Our guards are mostly tall anyway. So, it covers up for this weekness to some extent.

That's all I got. We look pretty strong everywhere else.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

This is completely off topic but Uros has to be the most frustrating big man to watch.

I’m not saying he needs to be a great offensive player but when he gets close to the basket, he needs to learn to go straight up with the ball instead of trying to do too much.

If he gets fouled then he gets fouled.

Getting at least 10 points from him a night would help the guards out tremendously.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

I'm actually more concerned with keeping everybody happy with the number of minutes on the floor. As a former basketball coach myself, IMO, a rotation of 9 players is about right (no injuries of course). We've actually got 11-12 guys who could give quality minutes.

I think we will only see about 9 guys getting all of the minutes non-garbage minutes. If Ticket or somebody is mad, I hate it, but they'll get their chance when Pons and Anosike are gone.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

Just from this casual observer that loves to watch Vols sports, after the first 3 games
I am concerned at the lack of the 3 point shooting and overall shooting.

I am also concerned at the failure of Pons and Anosike to hit those 8-10 ft shots that are open in the zone defense.

I think Pons will eventually start hitting those, but I would feel better if they start falling sooner rather than later.

Side note - man, that Keon (keyon?) is one heckuva complete player!! Best since Tobias in my opinion.

I think some of them had the coronavirus. It zaps your strength for awhile even after you're negative. Fulky especially looked a little saggy in the first two games to me.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

This is completely off topic but Uros has to be the most frustrating big man to watch.

I’m not saying he needs to be a great offensive player but when he gets close to the basket, he needs to learn to go straight up with the ball instead of trying to do too much.

If he gets fouled then he gets fouled.

Getting at least 10 points from him a night would help the guards out tremendously.

Yeah he's weak

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I think we will only see about 9 guys getting all of the minutes non-garbage minutes. If Ticket or somebody is mad, I hate it, but they'll get their chance when Pons and Anosike are gone.

I don’t think that Ticket is losing many, or any, minutes to Pons and Anosike. Uros and ORN have plenty of minutes available if they can show some they’re ready to contribute anything without being a liability.

Walker and Pember could grab minutes spread over many different positions, but developmentally don’t seem ready. I think that both are best suited for the 3 right now but there are about 5 or 6 other options in front of them there.

 

[Unconditional Surrender]

I don’t think that Ticket is losing many, or any, minutes to Pons and Anosike.

I thought he could play the 4.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I think that conditioning is more of an issue than shooting. They work as hard as any UT team I remember on defense. I think they’re tired when they transition to offense. I wonder how many have had the COVID.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I thought he could play the 4.

He’s kind of skinny to be guarding 4s.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

This is completely off topic but Uros has to be the most frustrating big man to watch.

I’m not saying he needs to be a great offensive player but when he gets close to the basket, he needs to learn to go straight up with the ball instead of trying to do too much.

If he gets fouled then he gets fouled.

Getting at least 10 points from him a night would help the guards out tremendously.

I don’t think UP should see the floor that much unless our post players get into foul trouble.

 

[VolArmy74]

I said the 3 the other day. You have to outscore people with it at some point in every tournament it seems. I don't even know that we don't have a good shooter because so far we hardly take any compared to most teams and we've been in a team wide shooting slump.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I said the 3 the other day. You have to outscore people with it at some point in every tournament it seems. I don't even know that we don't have a good shooter because so far we hardly take any compared to most teams and we've been in a team wide shooting slump.

It was only moved back 2 inches, but there hasn’t been an NCAA tournament game played yet at the new distance.